{"title":"Green Remedies: Pharmacological potential of phytonutrients for combatting air pollution-related respiratory diseases","authors":"Shobna L. Thuraisingam , Irene Heijink , Bey-Hing Goh , Yoon-Yen Yow","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Millions of people die from air pollution each year, posing a worldwide threat to health. Hazardous gases such as nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) and particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic dimensions of 10 µm (PM<sub>10</sub>), 2.5 µm (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) and 0.1 µm (PM<sub>0.1</sub>) are examples of air pollutants which can travel deep into the airways and alveolar regions of the lungs. Inhalation of PM and other gaseous pollutants induces oxidative stress and damage in the airway epithelium, resulting in activation of pro-inflammatory responses and attraction of immune cells. This review discusses the prevalence and consequences of air pollutants on respiratory illnesses, emphasizing the necessity for effective treatments. It also spotlights promising natural products and their derived compounds, which have demonstrated favourable pharmacological properties in managing oxidative stress and inflammation, crucial contributors to respiratory diseases, based on a thorough analysis of existing literature. Among these, marine algae have emerged as a particularly rich source of bioactive compounds including sulfated polysaccharides, phlorotannins, carotenoids, and sterols that exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. These algae-derived phytonutrients interact with key molecular targets and signalling pathways involved in airway inflammation, oxidative stress, immune responses, and airway remodelling.</div><div>Understanding the mechanism of PM induced lung pathology provides insights into the potential efficacy of natural products, especially marine algae, in managing respiratory conditions. The review also addresses challenges and limitations associated with the use of phytochemical compounds derived from natural products, including standardization, safety, and clinical translation. Through a deep understanding of their phytochemical makeup and underlying mechanisms, researchers and healthcare practitioners can investigate innovative therapeutic approaches and develop targeted interventions to improve respiratory health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 100235"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145584587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"3D printing in drug delivery: emerging technologies, clinical translation, and the future of personalized medicine","authors":"Bellarmin Michael, Nandhini Jayaprakash, Nithyasree Munivel, Dharshini Jaisankar","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Three-dimensional (3D) printing has rapidly evolved into a transformative platform for drug delivery, offering capabilities that extend far beyond the customization possible with traditional manufacturing. This review critically evaluates the major 3D-printing technologies FDM, SLS, SLA/CLIP, SSE, and multi-material inkjet and compares their suitability across oral, transdermal, implantable, and bioprinted systems. Emphasis is placed on material limitations, polymer–drug compatibility challenges, quality-control constraints, and regulatory barriers that currently restrict translation. Recent advancements in nano-enabled formulations, stimuli-responsive architectures, and high-resolution multi-material systems are examined to illustrate how structural design directly influences pharmacokinetics and therapeutic performance. The review concludes with a forward-looking synthesis that highlights emerging opportunities in AI-assisted dosage design, 4D shape-morphing platforms, and point-of-care manufacturing workflows. Together, these insights provide a comprehensive and critical understanding of the technological, material, and regulatory factors shaping the future of 3D-printed drug delivery. By advancing innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing and enabling more equitable access to personalized therapies, 3D printing represents a pivotal evolution toward patient-centric drug delivery solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 100242"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Krishnapriya Thiyagarasaiyar , Kai Xuan Lim , Chi Chen Wong , Jing Yu Lim , Bey-Hing Goh , You-Jin Jeon , Lai Ti Gew , Yoon-Yen Yow
{"title":"Antiphotoaging and anti-inflammatory effects of Malaysian brown seaweed Sargassum aquifolium: Cellular insights from HaCaT and RAW 264.7 models and metabolite profiling via LC-MS","authors":"Krishnapriya Thiyagarasaiyar , Kai Xuan Lim , Chi Chen Wong , Jing Yu Lim , Bey-Hing Goh , You-Jin Jeon , Lai Ti Gew , Yoon-Yen Yow","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioactive metabolites derived from algae are gaining popularity as safe and effective compounds for the development of new skincare products around the world. In this study, the cosmeceutical effects of Malaysian brown algae <em>Sargassum aquifolium</em> (<em>S. aquifolium</em>) extracts were investigated. The investigation began with phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activities. The anti-photoaging and anti-inflammation properties of <em>S. aquifolium</em> water and ethanol extracts were then tested against UVB-induced HaCaT keratinocytes and LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, respectively. <em>S. aquifolium</em> ethanol and water extracts are high in phenolic and flavonoid compounds and have high DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power activity. The ethanol extract was found to have remarkable anti-photoaging properties by downregulating COX-2 (1.2-fold) and MMP-1 (3.1-fold) expressions, as well as anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing iNOS via NO suppressions and inhibiting TNF-α (45%) and IL-6 secretion (98%). According to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis <em>S. aquifolium</em> ethanol extract also contains carbohydrates, lipids, carotenoids, terpenes, pigments, benzofuran, and phloroglucinol. In conclusion, bioactive metabolites isolated from <em>S. aquifolium</em> ethanol extract have been shown to exhibit improved antioxidant, antiphotoaging, and anti-inflammatory capabilities, suggesting that they could be used as a cosmeceutical agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Energy-based method for designing aptamers to target phosphatidylcholine","authors":"Fatima Alharbi , Hamed Alsulami , Suliman AlOmar , Md. Ashrafuzzaman","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2026.100247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2026.100247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diverse technologies are used to design nucleic acid aptamers to achieve targeted therapeutics, engineer diagnostic tools to detect specific biomolecules associated with disease-oriented signaling pathways, and develop drug delivery systems. Despite the availability of many methods, including systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, there is no reliable method that can address aptamer-target binding energetics during aptamer design. We have developed a technique to do so, combining theoretical and computational methods. In this energy-based method, we calculate drug-target binding energies (DTBEs) and monitor phenomenological drug-target binding energetics related to drug-target association/dissociation processes, considering screened Coulomb interactions (SCIs) among a distribution of functional charges in a complex of an aptamer or aptamer building block (ABB) and target biomolecule in the biological environment where interactions take place. An ABB is any nucleotide: adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil (for RNA), or thymine (for DNA). We have designed a set of novel aptamers for phosphatidylcholine, an important biomolecule relevant to various therapeutics, that are outlined here. In summary, our drug designing method involves constructing an aptamer using a seed-and-grow approach, optimizing SCIs, and selecting aptamer length based on the trend of DTBE in an aqueous environment, where aptamers interact with target(s). This novel technique, the screened Coulomb interaction approach (SCIA), ensures the discovery of target-specific aptamers as the target specificity is inherently incorporated during the aptamer design phases. SCIA is expected to significantly enhance aptamer discovery research and help develop aptamer-based therapeutics for diseases where specific drug targets are known.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 100247"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kai-feng He , Hao-dong Cui , Wen-hui Deng , Na Xing , Guo-jian Liu , Abdallah Iddy Chaurembo , Li-dan Fu , Yuan Li , Xin-yue Tong , Han-bin Lin , Chun-he Wang
{"title":"From colorless to pink: Structural insights into vitamin B12-induced color change in monoclonal antibodies","authors":"Kai-feng He , Hao-dong Cui , Wen-hui Deng , Na Xing , Guo-jian Liu , Abdallah Iddy Chaurembo , Li-dan Fu , Yuan Li , Xin-yue Tong , Han-bin Lin , Chun-he Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are typically colorless; however, the pink coloration observed during production raises quality concerns. This study investigated the mechanism linking this color change to Vitamin B12 (VB12), which converts to hydroxycobalamin (OH-Cbl) under light and binds covalently to cysteine residues in antibodies via cobalt-sulfur bonds.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Three batches of IgG1 antibodies (SP1, SP2, and NL)—were expressed in CHO cells, exposed to light, and purified. Binding interactions were analyzed using HPLC, RP-UPLC/MS, SDS-PAGE, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). Peptide mapping and 3D structural modeling using protenix and autodock vina software identified the binding sites and spatial requirements.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>OH-Cbl covalently binds to five cysteine residues: L_Csy138 and L_Csy218 (light chain) and H_Csy22, H_Csy96, and H_Csy323 (heavy chain). SP2 exhibited a higher VB12 content (molar ratio 1:5.71 vs. 1:9.74 in SP1) and increased hydrophobicity, confirming covalent attachment. Structural modeling revealed large protein pockets around these cysteines, accommodating VB12′s bulky structure. Peptide analysis revealed distinct UV absorption at 360 nm for SP2, while SDS-PAGE indicated slight molecular weight differences.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The pink coloration arises from the light-induced conversion of VB12 to OH-Cbl, which binds covalently to specific cysteine residues, facilitated by spatially permissive protein pockets. Controlling the light exposure during production can mitigate this phenomenon. This study elucidates the structural basis of antibody-VB12 interactions, offering critical insights for optimizing mAb quality control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100224"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuan Li , Yanxin Zhang , Guanqun Wan , Shaofei Song , Tingting Zhao , Renjie Cao , Weiwei Zeng , Min Huang , Yiming Jiang
{"title":"18β-glycyrrhetinic acid accelerates liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice","authors":"Yuan Li , Yanxin Zhang , Guanqun Wan , Shaofei Song , Tingting Zhao , Renjie Cao , Weiwei Zeng , Min Huang , Yiming Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA), a key bioactive triterpenoid in <em>Glycyrrhiza uralensis</em> Fisch, is recognized for its hepatoprotective effects in liver injury. However, the effect of 18β-GA on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PHx) remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of 18β-GA in facilitating liver regeneration after PHx.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>PHx mice were orally gavaged with 18β-GA for 7 days. The promotion of 18β-GA on liver regeneration was evaluated by liver/body weight ratio, BrdU, Ki67 and PCNA. Cell cycle transition was performed to evaluate hepatocyte proliferation. The effects of 18β-GA on protein and mRNA expression levels within the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway were systematically evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>18β-GA significantly accelerated liver mass recovery and promoted hepatocyte proliferation after PHx. 18β-GA treatment facilitated the cellular G1/S phase transition and upregulated the expression of the proliferation-related protein CCND1, PCNA, and p-RB. Moreover, 18β-GA significantly increased the levels of growth factors including <em>Hgf</em>, <em>Egf</em>, <em>Tgf-α,</em> and <em>Hb-egf</em>. Furthermore, mechanistic investigations suggested that 18β-GA activated the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, increasing the expression of p-ERK1/2, c-JUN, c-FOS, and c-MYC <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>. Application of ERK inhibitor U0126 effectively abolished 18β-GA-induced activation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>18β-GA exhibited a significant promoting effect on liver recovery following PHx, potentially through modulation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway to accelerate liver regeneration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100229"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145118683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shaoxin Huang , Shiyu Wang , Junlin Dong , Marc Xu , Shuguang Yuan
{"title":"NeBULA: a web-based novel drug design platform for up-to-date bioisosteric replacement","authors":"Shaoxin Huang , Shiyu Wang , Junlin Dong , Marc Xu , Shuguang Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioisosteric replacement is an important method for rational drug design. It enables the modification of key pharmacophores or functional groups to achieve desired molecular properties. However, systematic collections and updates in this method are missing at present. Here, we introduce NeBULA (Next-Generation Bioisostere Utility Libraries), which systematically collects, organizes, and checks qualitative bioisosteric replacements from more than 700 authoritative medicinal chemistry references. Based on this large database, we developed a user-friendly online drug optimization tool. It not only provides up-to-date alternatives for bioisosteric replacement from experimental data, but also resolves noticeable issues in current tools. Furthermore, NeBULA provides Fsp<sup>3</sup>-rich bioisosteric replacement SMARTS (SMIRKS) reactions, as well as a library full of drug-like molecules and fragments. Finally, the molecular fragmentation applications inside NeBULA platform offer medicinal chemists numerous fragments for drug fusion and replacement. NeBULA is freely available via the following webpage: <span><span>http://nebula.alphamol.com.cn:5001</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100231"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145219777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revolutionizing pharmacology: AI-powered approaches in molecular modeling and ADMET prediction","authors":"Irfan Pathan , Arif Raza , Adarsh Sahu , Mohit Joshi , Yamini Sahu , Yash Patil , Mohammad Adnan Raza , Ajazuddin","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100223","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The fusion of Artificial intelligence (AI) with computational chemistry has revolutionized drug discovery by enhancing compound optimization, predictive analytics, and molecular modeling. This review explores the integration of AI techniques, including machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and generative models with traditional computational methods such as molecular docking, quantum mechanics, and molecular dynamics simulations. It outlines the evolution of computational chemistry and the transformative role of AI in interpreting complex molecular data, automating feature extraction, and improving decision-making across the drug development pipeline. Core AI algorithms support vector machines, random forests, graph neural networks, and transformers are examined for their applications in molecular representation, virtual screening, and ADMET property prediction. Special attention is given to de novo drug design using generative adversarial networks (GANs) and variational autoencoders (VAEs), as well as AI-driven high-throughput virtual screening that reduces computational costs while improving hit identification. The review also discusses platforms like Deep-PK and DeepTox for pharmacokinetics and toxicity prediction using graph-based descriptors and multitask learning. In structure-based design, AI-enhanced scoring functions and binding affinity models outperform classical approaches, while DL transforms molecular dynamics by approximating force fields and capturing conformational dynamics. The convergence of AI with quantum chemistry and density functional theory (DFT) is illustrated through surrogate modeling and reaction mechanism prediction. Despite these advances, challenges remain in data quality, model interpretability, and generalizability. The review concludes by highlighting future directions, including hybrid AI-quantum frameworks and multi-omics integration, underscoring AI’s potential to accelerate safer, more cost-effective drug discovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100223"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144885771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Shortcomings in the development of anti‑SARS-CoV-2 drugs: prioritizing medicinal chemistry efforts toward RdRp, 3CLpro, and PLpro inhibitors","authors":"Mehdi Valipour","doi":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100236","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medidd.2025.100236","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":33528,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Drug Discovery","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100236"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}